Straw cutting machine



Jan. 5, 1932. c. F. SMITH 1,339,773

STRAW CUTTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12. 19:0 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 7 32 12 I57 I- 55 .4 45. 5,444, 6 sg 10 I 5 i I 1 .52 I .53 [9 "I'l I Ill" 52 H H I 50 56 120 15 I 4 2 i 1'4 4] L MEL l ENTOR 7 J Wdifihnitk @mw Jim 1932- c. F. SMITH 1,839,778

STRAW CUTTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M 045 Z9. Z2 63 W ATT RNEY Patented Jan. 5, 1932 o STATES PATENTfoFFicE CHARLES E. SMITH, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO LILY-rum? our 003- PORATION, on NEW YORK, n. Y., aoonr'onnrion or nnnawnna srmw comma MACHINE Application filed February 12, 1930. Serial No. 427,688.

This invention relates to mechanism for cutting into predetermined lengths material having a continuous forward feed while such material is in motion, and relates in particu- LS lar to mechanism for cutting fragilematerial such as tubes which, because of the thinness of their walls and their character and condition, are readily'injured if pinched or otherwise compressed.

The preferred form of the invention illustrated herein is designed for conjoint operation with machines for making'spirally wound tubes, as set forth in Letters Patent issued August 6, 1929, No. 1,723,258, when ing sippers or paper straws.

While it is convenient to describe these present improvements as related to cutting into commercial lengths spirally wound paper straws, the stock of which is rapidly rotated about its axis as it is continuously fed Fig. 2 is an elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 1, looking up the sheet.

Fig. 3 is an elevation looking at Figs. 1

and 2 from the left-hand side. I Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section of some parts of the'mechanism, other parts being shown in elevation, taken at approximately the plane of the line ll-d in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a detail showing one of the knives and associated parts on an enlarged scale, and

showing in elevation some of the parts which are represented as being broken awayin Fig. 2. p v I .The mechanism is primarily designed for simultaneously cutting both ends of j each length which is severed from the stock.

In the connnercial manufacture of sippers' or paper straws, it has been my practice to form'these from two thin strips of paper spirally wound together about a mandrel.

these machines are employed for manufactur- Gum of some. suitable character, generally dissolved in water, is applied to the face of one of the strips where this overlies the other, and the stock of material moves rapidly'froin the machine and rotates about its longitudinal axis; It is of course well known to those experienced in working with paper that when it is Wet it absorbs moisture not only from the glue or paste which is employed upon it, but also from the atmosphere, and that atmospheric conditions largely control the rapidity with which the paper absorbs such moisture, and also the quantity'absorbed.

hese circumstances, in varying degree,'affeet the condition of the tubes as they advance to the point where they are to be severed or cut up into commercial lengths. Not

only does the length of stock delivered from the forming machine from a given quantity of paper vary from day to day, but such variations occur during different portions of the same day. This makes it undesirable to regulate the cutting off mechanism in con forniity with the length of stock fed into the forming machine. If this latter method of cutting off the lengths is followed it is found that the straws as they are bundled for delivery to the. consumer will vary in length so that the ends of the bundle will. be. ragged and unsightly.

. It is very hard tov handle'and pack in containers, orto transport, straws varying in length without mashing over the ends of the longer straws. Such mashing not only gives the bundle the unsightly appearance above referred to, but also damages the straws so that they are incapable of being used-for thepurpose of sipping beverages. I have therefore found it desirable to cut the straws in such a manner that both ends ofeach;

waste is involved, which, however, is negligible' in comparison with 1 the beneficial results obtained byihaving the straws. of uniform length. v

. In my improved machine, l 'provide a pair other knife simultaneously trims the piece to the required length.

The forward motion of the oncoming stock of material cannot be impeded or interfered withduring the cuttingoperation, as otherwise'the stock, which is in a partlydried condition, will be crushed or will be buckled up so that the machine will have to be stopped,

with attendant waste of stock For the purpose of meeting the exacting requirements, I

have designed a'continuously rotating holder 7 for the length of straw which is being cut ofi',

and have so mounted this that it moves forward at the same rate of speed as the oncoming stock of material. The knives also moving forward with it are caused to advance and to cut the straw as it is rotated and forwarded. After the cutting is efiected the knives are positively and quickly returned to idle position and the rotary holder is returned to its initial position. So far as the eye can detect, the lengths of cut straws are delivered from this mechanism at the samerate of speed as that at which'the stock enters it, there being intervals between the straws occasioned by the small piece of scrap which is cut. or

v trimmed off the forward end of each straw length. The bed or table of the machine is represented in the'draiwings by the referencecharacter 7 and maybe a separate bed or may be a part of the bed of the machine which forms the straw. In the drawings the bed is shown broken away to indicate that it is a part of the larger machine. The oncoming stock of material is indicated by the reference character 8. A part of a band 9 is illustrated, having two or three wraps around the stock of material 8 for the purpose of spirallymoving such material. The band is assumed to be of'the the oncoming material is fed from or by' the band 9. The stock of material passes from this guide 11 into the holding mechanism which cooperates with'the cutters. The holding means may be best described in connection with Fig. 4 which illustrates a tubular member 12 having a bore prefer'ablyof such di- .mensions thatthe stock has a tight fit within it. This tube is preferably of the exact length of th e'straws which are to'be cut. In 1 each o'f'its endsthere is inserted a hardened bushing 13. 'Inwardly'of its ends the tube is supported by ballbearings having inner race rings 14 mounted on the tube, the outer race rings 15 of which ball bearings are mounted in clearance-of the knife blade.

' travels with the slide 18. ber or actuatmg-member 35 for the rock arm housings 16 which are carried by arms or brackets 17 fast with a slide 18 mounted on ways 19 formed on the face of an upstanding portion 20 of the machine frame. Suitable closures 21 are provided for closing the interior of the housings l6 and for holding the rings 14 and 15 of the ball bearing in position.

Fast with the outer ends of the housings 16 are brackets 22 carrying bushings 23 and 24 serving as guides for steadying the material. The brackets also form guides or protectors for the knives presently to be described. The bushing 23 at the receiving end, the righthand end in Fig. 4, has a flaring mouth for accommodating any vibration in the stock 8 as this is received at this point. The bushing 24 at the delivery end may be made plain, of uniform internal diameter,.as illustrated.

For the purpose of rotating the tube 12 and maintaining the rotation of the stock both before andafter it has been cut, an air jet wheel isprovided having a hub 25 fast on the center of the tube 12 and a number of vanes 26 running closely but freely between the ends of the-housings 16.

7 Theknives in the illustration are mounted to cut on their upward movement, and I have found it desirable to positively depress the knives into the idle position and to quickly release them to the action of'a spring, so that at the time during which they are-in cutting engagement with the stock their movement will be rapid. The rapid rotation of the tubular material at the time the knives are thus coming up resultsin very clean cuts. Each of the knives 27 is carried by a rock arm 28. The form of knife illustrated is very thin and is clamped to the head 29 of the rock arm by means of a plate 30 and a'pair of" cap screws 31. The space between the bushings 13 and 23, and 13 and 24, is just suflicient for the These bushings closely hold the tube about its entire circumferenceat both sides of both knives during the cutting operation.

The hubs 32 which carry the rock arms 28 are fast on a rock shaft 33, the rock shaft,being supported in a pair of housing members 34 fastwith the housings 16 and the arms 17,

An engaging memis carried by a hub 36 fast with the rock arm. The spring mechanism, which in the illustrated form of the device actuates the knives to effect the cutting operation, is shown comprising a spring 37 located in a telescopic sheath 38, one end of which engages the actuator and the other end of which engages a suitably formedseat on the carriage member 18.; r r

The knife clamping plate 30, see Fig. 5, is preferably recessed at'39for accommodating the lower end 40 of the bracket 22. In this view the dot and dash line position 270 illustrates the preferred limit of advanceof the knife in cutting the stock 8.

A sleeve-like bearing 41 is shown upstanding from the base plate 7 such sleeve being shown formed with a guiding and steadying foot flange 42. This sleeve 41forms the hearing for a cam shaft 43, to the upper end of which shaft is keyed a cam wheel 44. There is formed-in the upper side of such wheel a cam groove 45'for the knife actuating device, and in its lower side a cam groove 46 for shifting the carrier head 18 and with it the tube 12 and its associated. mechanism.

A cam mechanism has been found most efficient for actuating the movable parts, that is, to eflect the proper timing and the quick reversals of action which are necessary.

A. fixed pivot pin 47 is provided for the linkages which are operated by the cams. This pin is shown carried by a hub 52 at the free end of an arm 48, such arm also having a hub 50 at its other end surrounding and fast with the tubular bearing 41. i

Surrounding the pivot pin 47 and free to rotate thereon is a hub 51 resting upon the hub 52 which carries the pin 47. This hub 51 forms part of the lever 53 which carries at its central portion a pin 54 running in the underside cam groove 46. The free end of this lever 53 is connected by means of a link 55 to an ear 56 on the slide 18.

Freely mounted above the hub 51 on the pin 47 is a hub 57 of the knife blade operating lever 58 which has in its central portion a pin 59 running in the upper cam groove 45. The free end of the lever 58 is connected by means of a link 60 to the center portion'of a lever 61 having pivoted at one end a link 62 which is pivoted to the machined frame below the guiding member 11. The free end of the lever 61 is formed with an elongated engaging head63 which contacts with the actuating finger 35.

Owing to the fact that the knife blade actuating mechanism above described must work quickly for returning the knife to its inoperative position, and for quickly releasing it to the action of the spring while the slide 18 and its associated parts are reciprocating, it has been found desirable to employ he pivoted link 62 for carrying the pivot pin 64 of the lever 61.

The operation of the machine is substantially as follows:

The material 8, which is spirally advanced by means of the belt 9, passes through-the guide 11 and into the tube or supporting holder 12 through the bushings 23 and 13..

Tt is to be noted that the length of the tube or supporting holder 12 is'shown equal to that of the pieces to be cut ofi'. The holder 12 is continuously rotated by means of an air jet from a nozzle 65 striking thevanes 26 of the air jet wheel.

ciently long to be at all times 1n position for These vanes are Sufiaction." r

effectively receiving the discharge of the jet nozzle as the holder 12 is reciprocated. As a starting point in the cycle of operation, it is assumed that the supporting holder and the knife blades are in the position illus trated in the various figures of the drawings at which the knives are in idle position, just clearing the stock in the holder 12, and associated parts at the rearward end of their traverse, anda suf'icient length of stock has passed into theholder 12 to permit a short end of the stock to extend beyond the far end of the holder and into the bushing 24. The cam groove 46 is so formed and the parts so timed that the carriage 18 and holder 12 are moved forwardly in the direction of the oncoming material and at the same speed, this movement being down the sheet in Figure 1, toward the right in Fig. 3, and toward the left in Fig. 4. The formation of the cam groove 45 is such that during this movement the head 63 is withdrawn quickly releasing the actuating finger'35 to the action of the spring 37 which rapidly rocks the shaft 33 causing the knife blades to move up and engage the stock 8 as this is rapidly rotating, the guides all this time moving forward at the same rate of speed as does the stock. The full'extent of the, throw of the knives, see Fig. 5, is preferably notpast the center of the stock. This knife action causes the stock to be cut circumferentially which is a fact of considerable advantage in dealing with thin tubes, especially those formed of paper.

In one aspect of the cutting operation it might be assumed that one knife cuts off a piece of stock having a length in encess of that required, and that the other knife trims the piece to the required length, although in the preferred form of the invention this cutting is done simultaneously. Another aspect is that the knives out each piece at both ends. Immediately after the knives have performed their work they are withdrawn by the cam The knives are moved relatively to the holder and steadying guides on a timed cycle slower than the stock feed which enables the knife at the feeding in end to cut off a piece of stock having a length in excess of that required for apiece of finished product. The knife at thefar end trims off the excess therereducing the piece to the required length.

There are obvious advantages to be obtained by causing the knives to function simultaneously. There are also advantages which areobtained by rigidly connecting the knives together. In the preferred form of machine herein illustrated, both these features, rigid connection and simultaneous functioning, are present, which necessitates spacing the knives apart a distance similar to the length of the finished pieces. The cam-groove 46 is so formed and the direction of the oncoming material, that is,

up the sheet in Figure 1 and toward the left in Fig. 3. The movement of the holder is on a timed cycle slower than the stock feed. During the return movement a new length of stock passes into the supporting holder tube 12, and due to the slower movement of the holder a portion of the stock is caused to eX- tend beyond the end of the tube and beyond the working point of thetrimming knife. Also durin the reverse movement, owing to the torn'iation and timing of the cam groove and its associated parts, the presser head (33 stands still, which permits the actuating linger 35 in its movement, up the sheet in Figure l and tothe left in Fig. 8, to pass idly over the head.

Although but one form of the invention has been illustrated and particularly described, yet it is to be understood that various changes may bemade as occasion demands within the scope ofthe claims without departing from the spirit of my invent-ion.

Having described my invention, 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a cutting oil mechanism, the combination with means for continuously advancing and rotating tubular stock, eta reciprocatory structure embodying a. supporting holder having a bore formed to closely embrace the stock, the length of the holder being similar to the length of the pieces to be cut on", a pair of knives mounted on the reciprocatory structure, and means for mov ing the knives adjacent the respective ends of the holder and into positions partially covering the bore upon the traverse with the advancing stock.-

2. In cutting off mechanism, the combination with means for continuously advancing and rotating thin tubular stock, of a reciprocatory structure embodying a holder for supporting the stock and having a bore formed to closely embrace the supported stock, a pair of knives mounted on the reciprocatory structure, and means for moving the knives in a direction transversely of the bore of the holder, the parts being timed for circumferentially. cutting the tubular stock during its rotation. I

8. In a cutting ofi mechanism, the combination with means for continuously spirally V advancing thin'tubular stock, of a supportknives mounted for reciprocation with the holder, and means for simultaneously mov ing the knives ad acent the respective ends of the holder'vand into positionspartially radially covering the bore for cutting the piece being formed at both of its ends.

4. The combination with'means for continuously advancing thin tubular stock, of a supporting holder and a cam for reciprocating this in line withthe stock movement, a pair of knives mounted on the holder and spaced apart a distance equal to the length of material to be cut oil, spring pressed means for simultaneously moving the knives into position to cut at both of its ends a piece of stolk inthe holder, and a cam for quickly returning the knives to idle position.

5. The combination with means for continuously advancing thintubular stock, of a supporting holder and a cam for reciprocating this in line with the stock movement, a knife, movable with the holder, spring pressed means for moving the knife into position to cut a piece or stock supported in the holder, and a cam for quickly returning the knife to idleposition.

6. The combination with means for continuously advancing thin tubular stock, of a supporting holder and a cam for reciprocating thisin line with the stock movement, a pair of knives movable with the holder and spaced apart a distance equal to thelength of material to be cut oii, spring pressed means for moving the knives into position to cut a piece of stock in the holder at both of its ends, and means for quickly returning the knives to idle position.

7. in a cutting ofi mechanism, the combination with a continuously moving band adapted when wrapped about tubular stock to spirally advance it, of a reciprocatory structure embodying a supporting holder having a bore formed to closely embrace the stock, an air jet wheel carried by the holder for eltecting its rotation, a pair of knives mounted on the reciprocatory structure, and means for moving the knives into positions to cut the stock fed into the holder at two places.

8. In a cutting ofi mechanism, the combination with a continuously moving band adapted when wrapped about tubular stock to spirally advance it, of a reciprocatory structure embodying asupporting holder having a bore formed to closely embrace the stock, the length of the holder being similar to the length of the pieces to be cut off, an air jet wheel carried by the holder for effecting its rotation, a pair of knives mounted on the reciprocatory structure, and means for moving the knivesadjacent the respective ends of the holder and into positions to simultaneously cut the stock at both such ends.

9. In a cutting off mechanism, the combination with a continuously moving band adapted when wrapped about tubular stock to spirally advance it, of a reciprocatory structureembodying a supporting holder.

having a bore formed to closely embrace the stock, an air jet wheel carried by the holder and having longitudinally extended vanes constructed and adapted for receiving an air jet from a stationary nozzle during the reciprocatory excursions of the holder.

10. In a cutting off mechanism, the combination with a continuously moving band adapted when wrapped about tubular stock to spirally advance it, of a reciprocatory structure embodying a supporting holder having a length similar to the length of the pieces to be cut ofl? and guides at the ends of the holder, the holder and guides having a bore formed to closely embrace the tubular stock fed into them, a pair of knives mounted on the reciprocatory structure, and means for moving the knives between each of the respective ends of the holder and the adjacent guide for cutting the stock within the holder at both ends of the piece being formed.

11. In a cutting ofl" mechanism, the combination with a continuously moving band adapted when wrapped about tubular stock to spirally advance it, of a reciprocatory structure embodying a supporting holder having a length similar to the length of the pieces to be cut oif and guides at the ends of the holder, the holder and guides having a bore formed to closely embrace the tubular stock fed into them, hardened bushings in the ends of the holder and in the guides through which part of the said bore is formed, a pair of knives mounted on the reciprocatory structure, and means for moving the knives between each of the respective ends of the holder and the adjacent guide for cutting the stock within the holder at both ends of the piece being formed.

12. In a cutting off mechanism, the combination with a continuously moving band adapted when wrapped about tubular stock to spirally advance it, of a reciprocatory structure embodying a supporting holder having ends defining the length of the pieces to be cut off and side guides, the holder and guides having a bore formed to closely embrace the tubular stock fed into it, a pair of knives mounted on the reciprocatory structure, and means for moving the knives between each of the respective ends of the holder and the adjacent guide for cutting the stock within the holder at both ends of the holder.

13. In a cutting ofi' mechanism, the combination with a continuously moving band adapted when wrapped about tubular stock to spirally advance it, of a reciprocatory structure embodying a supporting holder having ends defining the length of the pieces to be cut oif and side guides, the holder and guides having a bore formed to closely embrace the tubular stock fed into it, a pair of knives mounted on the reciprocatory structure, and means for moving the knives between each of the respective ends of the holder and the adjacent guide for cutting the stock within the holder at both ends of the holder and at both ends of the piece being formed.

14. In a device of the character specified,

the combination with a pair of knives spaced 1 apart a distance equal to the length of the material to be cut ofi", of a tubular holder for the stock embodying a portion for supporting a length of stock between the knives, and

steadying guides outwardly of the knives for p the knives relatively to the holder and steadying guides on a timed cycle slower than the stock feed whereby the knife at the feeding in end cuts ofi' a piece of stock having a length in excess of that required and the knife at the far end simultaneously trims off the excess thereby reducing the piece to the required length, and means for limiting the cutting movement of the knives so that these perform the cutting in a direction inwardly and circumferentially of the stock and do not pass entirely through the stock radially. 15. In a cutting off mechanism, the combination with a continuously moving band adapted when wrapped about tubular stock to spirally advance it, of a reciprocatory structure embodying a supporting holder of a length similar to the length of the pieces to be cut off and side guides, the holder and guides having a bore formed to receive and closely embrace the tubular stock fed into it, a pair of knives mounted on the reciprocatory structure, and means for simultaneously moving the knives between each of the respective ends of the holder and the adjacent guide on a timed cycle slower than the stock feed whereby the knife at the feeding in end cuts of]? a piece of stock having a length in excess reducing the piece to the required length, and simultaneously trims off the excess thereby reducing the piece to the required length, and means for limiting the cutting movement of the knives so that these perform the cutting in a direction inwardly and circumferentially of the stock and do not through the stock radially.

Signed at Brooklyn, N. Y., this tenth day of February, 1930.

7 CHARLES F. SMITH.

pass entirely 

